Shoe-lacing.



V PATENTED NOV. 6; 1906. H. L. JOHNSTON; SHOE LAGING;

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 18. 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oFFroE.

HOYTIL. JOHNSTON, 'oF WASHINGT N, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

' sHoE-LAome.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 18, 1905. Serial No. 241,710.

Patented Nov. 6, 1906.

Washington, District of Columbia, have, in-

vented certain new and useful Im rovements in shoerLacings, of which the fo lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a lace-fastening designed most especially for shoes, also adapted for generaluse, andembodying a series of fixed buttons, a like series of loose buttons arranged intermediate of the fixed buttons,'a, lace passed through the fixed and loose buttons, and fastenings intermediate of the fixed buttons to receive the loose buttons which makedetachable connection therewith.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a laced shoe embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the lace loosened and the detachable buttons disconnected from their res ective plates. Fi 3 is a top planview of a utton-attaching p ate on a lar e scale. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of t e button, late, and material on the line a; w of Fig. 3. lg. 5 is a side view of the plate as it appears before bending the lower edge portion of the rim. Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of one of the buttons. detail view of a button-attaching plate.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followin description and indicated in all the views 0 the drawings by the same reference characters.

The shoe may be of any style, design, and make and is of the type fastened about the foot by means of a lace and cooperating fastenings.

The buttons are applied to the shoe-u per at each side of the o ening, the interme 'ateones being fixed ang the alternate ones detachable. In general appearance and construction the buttons are similar, and the head of each is formed with a transverse opening 1, throu h which the lace 2 is passed. By having the a ternate buttons detachable the lacewhen untied may be loosened sufliciently to admit of the shoe being readily laced upon the foot or drawn therefrom.

he alternate buttons are placed in position or removed by a sliding movement, which Fig. 7 is amaybe effected more easily than passin a lace through the accustomed eyelet, and% y having through the head of the button no projecting the opening 1 formed transversely parts are presented for catching the clothing,

which is one of the chief objections urged'by ladies. against shoes of the laced type, ro-

vided with the usual hooks orlacing-stud The fixed buttons may be attached to the shoe or other article in any determinate wa whereas the removable buttons have detac tracted portion of the slot, as will be readily comprehended. The plate 3 has a raised portion 6, surrounding the narrow portion of the slot 4, to form a ard or seat for the base portion of the button-head, thereby'relieving the shank in a great measure of a part of the strain sustained by the button when the shoe is laced, rendering the late more rigid and effectually preventing t ecatching of threads or garments. When the plate 3 is attached to the material 7 of the shoe or other article provided with the fastenings, a space 8 is provided'to admit of the sliding movement of the head 5. Provision may be had for the s ace 8 in any construction. For the sake of illustration the plate is rovided with a rim 9, which is adapted to ear against the material 7, so as to space the latter from the plate. Longitudinal portions of the rim are bent inward, as shown at 10, and inclose the inner or lower sides of the space 8 ,and prevent the material bulging inward and obstructing the ath of the head 5 and interfering with the co operation of the fastening. S urs 11 are cut from the rim portion 9 of t e 1plate and are ada ted to be passed through t e material 7 an to be clenched, so as to confine said material betweenthe points of the spurs and the invention to shoes, yet it is to be understoodthat it may be adapted to-other articles of wearingapparel utilizing strings or laces for drawing the parts together and serving as fastening means therefor. bodying the invention has the lace 2 passed through the openings 1 of the buttons in the usual manner, and when laced and tied the shoe ap ears as shown in Fig. 1. When the shoe is oosed, the alternate buttons are detached from-the. plates 3, but remain upon the lace, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2.

After the shoe hasbeen drawn u on the'footthe loosed buttons may be quick y and easily attached to their respective plates by sli ping the head 5 into the openings'of the s ots 4 and'moving them so as to engage with the portions of the plates adjacent to the narrow portions of: said slots, after which the lace may be drawn tight and tied in the usual manner.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is -1. In a'laoe-fasten'ing, the combination of a lace, a like'series of buttonsarranged at opposite sides of the space or opening of the part to be secured; the alternate buttons be ingfixed and-the intermediate buttonsbeing A shoe emloose and all the buttons having the lace passed loosely therethrough, and fastening means attached to the said part at each side of the opening and arranged midway between the fixed buttons, the loose buttons at each side of the o ening being adapted to engage with the sai 'fastening means located upon the o osite side of'the said opening.

2. n a lace-fastening, the combination of a lace, a series of lates attached to the article at eachside oi the opening thereof, a series of buttons arranged intermediate of said plates and attached to the article at eachside of the opening,.and other buttons loose upon the lace and provided in like series u on 0posite sides of the opening between t e fixed Euttons, the loose buttons upon one side of the opening being ada tedtomake detachable connection-with t e plates upon the opposite side of said opening, allthe buttons of the two series having openings through which the lace passes loosely.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

HOYT L. JOHNSTON. Witnesses:

ELIZABETHL. MAoFA'rE, W. N. WOODSON'. 

